Emmanuel Petit believes Arsenal can still beat Liverpool to the Premier League title this season.
The Gunners are currently six points behind the league leaders in second place after 22 matches.
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However, the Reds have played a game less than Mikel Arteta’s side, who finished as runners-up to Manchester City in each of the last two seasons.
Former midfielder Petit is still dreaming of a first league title since 2004 for his old club, though.
The World Cup winner has even detailed the three reasons which could see Arsenal pip their title rivals to the trophy.
He previously won the title in 1998 during his three-year spell in north London as a player.
Arsenal’s triumph under Arsene Wenger that season saw the Gunners overturn a 12-point gap to Manchester United at the top of the table.
Asked if the Gunners could still win the title this term, Petit told Sky Sports: “Yes – and I’ll tell you why.
“Liverpool and other teams are dealing with so many competitions.
“Arsenal, they have so many injuries, but they are going to be back soon. They are top players as well, so they are going to be fresh.
“They are out, almost, of the two national cups, so they can concentrate on the Champions League and Premier League.
“Liverpool are not doing that well in the last few weeks. They are conceding goals all the time and they are not confident.
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“Saka is coming back soon and the [January] market is not over yet as well.”
Arsenal are already out of this season’s FA Cup following their defeat to United earlier this month.
Meanwhile, they are set to be knocked out of the Carabao Cup after a 2-0 first leg defeat to Newcastle in the semi-finals.
As for Liverpool, Arne Slot’s side remain in both domestic cups, but were beaten 1-0 by Tottenham in their own semi-final first leg.
A trip to the Championship’s bottom side Plymouth in the FA Cup fourth round next month is expected to see the Reds advance in the competition.
Petit also highlighted the return of Bukayo Saka from injury during the title run-in.
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Saka has missed Arsenal’s last seven matches after suffering a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace in December.
The winger is expected to make a return to action at the end of March, in time for his side’s final nine league matches.
Arteta is also currently without William Saliba, Ethan Nwaneri, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White through injury.
Gabriel Jesus, meanwhile, is out for the season after injuring his anterior cruciate ligament against Manchester United.
As for Petit’s final point, he claims Liverpool have been ‘conceding goals all the time’, leaving their defence lacking confidence.
So far this season, the Reds have conceded 20 goals in 21 league matches, compared to Arsenal’s 21 conceded in one less match.
The leaders have also kept more clean sheets in the Premier League with nine to Arsenal’s seven.
